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VIDEO: Emotional Testimony at Colorado Civil Union Bill Hearing

Colorado's Senate Judiciary Committee passed a civil union bill, a welcome development in a state that has an anti-marriage constitutional amendment (despite the fact that a majority of Coloradans want to end marriage discrimination). The bill would give gay couples security in several areas, including medical decisions, insurance, and inheritance.

The couples affected are ones like Laura Latimer and Ellen Paul, who have a baby son. "We want to be able to take care of one another, like everyone else. There’s a responsibility in that," Latimer told the Colorado Independent.

The bill must still be passed by the Senate Finance Committee before reaching the floor, where it has a good chance of passing. The measure will face greater challenges in the House, where Republicans have a one-vote majority. But marriage does not have to be a partisan issue: in fact, yesterday's 6-3 committee vote included a "Yes" from GOP Sen. Ellen Roberts.

"I don’t think we should be in the business of legislating religion and morality,” she said. "I totally support the right of any faith-based organization to say what they think is acceptable or not, but I think voting for this bill was the right thing to do."

If you or someone you know live in Colorado, this link provides an easy way to urge to lawmakers to support the civil union bill: